Device for automatically filling vehicle tanks with motor fuel



March 24, 1970 NEBELSEK ETAL 3,502,117

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY FILLING VEHICLE TANKS WITH MOTOR FUEL FiledJuly 26, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS.

Hilbert J. Nebe/siek Lawrence 7. Wright Irwin insburg/r ab "1141A" ATTOR/VEY March 24, 1970 H. J. NEBELSIEK ET AL 3,502,117

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY FILLING VEHICLE TANKS WITH MOTOR FUEL 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1967 INVENTORS. Hilbert J. Nebe/sie/rLawrence 7? Wright lrwin Ginsburg/r A T TOR/V5 Y United States Patent O3,502,117 DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY FILLENG VEHICLE TANKS WITH MOTOR FUELHilbert .I. Nebelsiek, Hammond, Ind, and Lawrence T. Wright, Homewood,and Irwin Ginshnrgh, Morton Grove, Ill., assignors to Standard OilCompany, Chicago, III., a corporation of Indiana Filed July 26, 1967,Ser. No. 656,078 Int. Cl. B67d /04; B6511 31/00, 3/18 US. Cl. 1417Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vehicle mounted inlet means formating with a dispensing means including a dispensing head fortransferring fuel from bulk storage to a fuel tank. The vehicle mountedinlet means communicates with the vehicle tank through a plurality ofconduits.

The dispensing head movably connected to a support means andcommunicating with a fuel supply mates with the vehicle mounted inletmeans so that when final positioning occurs fuel is transferred in acontrolled manner from the fuel supply through the dispensing head andthe inlet means to the vehicle fuel tank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The retailing of motor fuel for automobilesis a major business in the United States, and is becoming increasinglyimportant in Western Europe and in other industrial nations. In theUnited States alone, there are currently approximately 220,000 servicestations engaged in retailing gasoline. About 50 billion gallons ofgasoline are sold an nually in the United States for the fueling ofautomobiles. Additional but much less amounts of diesel fuel are soldannually. A significant proportion, in the range of 4 to 7 per gallon,of the retail cost of gasoline is attributable to the operation, ascurrently practiced, of retail gasoline service stations. Such amount isgenerally referred to as the dealers margin, and varies generally withinsuch range depending upon geographical location, the policies of thesupplying refining company, and prevailing economic conditions. However,assuming a dealer margin of Sgt per gallon as a conservative average, itis apparent that the cost in the United States of retailing gasoline,after the same has been delivered to the service station, totals about$2.5 billion annually. The relative magnitude of the cost of retailinggasoline relative to the overall cost of furnishing gasoline to thepublic is apparent from recognition that the average retail price ofgasoline in the United States, exclusive of taxes, is about per gallon,whereas the price of crude petroleum at the wellhead average about 7%per gallon (equivalent to $2.94 per barrel). Despite the general trendin the United States to mechanize and automate operations which involvea high percentage of labor, the manner of dispensing gasoline at retailhas changed little in the last four decades.

Despite the rather poor economics of conventional fuel dispensingpractices today which are further complicated by the manpower shortage,few commercial installations for automatically dispensing fuel tovehicles have been commercially reduced to practice although the need isa great and demanding one. Predominantly, the conventional methodcommonly carried out for dispensing gasoline and other fuels at thetypical service station is done with the assistance of at least oneattendant. The attendant is informed by the vehicle operator orpassenger of the amount and grade of fuel desired and then the attendantmanually opens the vehicle fuel tank and fills the tank by means of anozzle connected to the conventional filling station pump. Generally,while the vehicle tank is being 'ice filled the attendant, to utilizehis time, performs other services for the purchaser followed by theremoval of the nozzle from the tank and the closing of the tank beforethe attendant is paid for the purchase in cash or through a credit cardtransaction.

The apparatus and method of this invention constitutes only a part of anentire system for automatically disensing fuel which is the subjectmatter of a co-pending application to Irwin Ginsburgh entitled Devicefor Automatically Filling Vehicle Tanks With Motor Fuel, filed July 26,1967, Ser. N0. 656,171. This method and apparatus is for dispensing fuelto vehicles in a manner that does not require the presence of anindividual prepared to function as an attendant during the purchase ofvehicle fuel at the conventional filling station. The portions of thisinvention for automatically filling motor vehicles includes a dispensinghead and a vehicle mounted fuel inlet means. The dispensing head whenfinally positioned with the vehicle mounted fuel inlet means which maybe at any practical and desired location on the vehicle, provides anovel apparatus and method for transferring fuel from a source of supplyto a motor vehicle tank without the aid of an attendant.

Illustrative of the prior art disclosing filling methods and apparatusare such patents as Sheets et al., US. 3,100,006; Darwin, U.S.3,095,020; and Mays US. 3,079,960 wherein various designs are exhibited;however, none of the known art appears to anticipate or even suggest thenovel method and apparatus disclosed and claimed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a novel dispensing headand vehicle mounted inlet means utilized in a system for automaticallyfilling vehicles when fuel is dispensed from a source of supply to avehicle tank.

The vehicle mounted inlet means includes a fastening means for attachingthe inlet to a selected part of the vehicle. Extending from thefastening means is the inlet means having a plurality of conduitsconnected to the vehicle fuel tank. The inlet means is adapted to matewith the dispensing head which when in the final position permits thetransfer of fuel from bulk storage through the dispensing head, and theinlet means to the vehicle fuel tank.

The dispensing means includes contact surfaces and sealing means, anozzle means for emitting fuel, means for sensing the level in the fueltank for controlling the fiow of fuel, vent means for removing thedisplaced fluid in the tank, and means for determining the final matingposition of the inlet means with the dispensing head prior to thecommencement of the flow of fuel. The dispensing means is movablymounted on a support and a plurality of conduit means extend from thedispensing means to bulk storage and to a vacuum producing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A more complete understanding of thestructural elements of this apparatus will be augmented by reference tothe attached drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing head and the vehiclemounted inlet means; and

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional elevation view of the dispensing head andthe vehicle mounted inlet means in the final, communicating position.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, numeral 21generally designates the dispensing means including a pair of supportmembers 22a and 22b respectively. The support members are movablymounted on pivots 220 at the base 23 of the dispensing means 21. Fullline 24 extends from a bulk fuel source to base 23 of dispensing head21.

Conduits and 26 extend along support member 22a and terminates insubstantially cylindrical protrusions 25a and 26a having side walls withopenings in the contact face 27a of the upper portion 26 of dispensingmeans 21. Inlet line 24 also communicates with face 27a and terminatesin a substantially cylindrical protrusion 24a from face 27a. Theprotrusion being similar to 25a and 26a in that it has a closed top andopenings in the walls.

The protrusions 24a, 25a and 26a from the contact face 27a of upperportion 27 of dispensing means 21 are disposed for alignment and matingwith related openings when the dispensing head 21 is finally positionedwith the inlet means 31 mounted upon the under side of the vehicle asshown in FIG. 1.

Inlet means 31 including fastening means 32 and conduits 34, 35 and 36are connected to the body portion 37 of the inlet means. The fasteningmeans 32 are attached to the vehicle axle 40 which is rigidly attachedto the vehicle differential 42 such as by a collar 41, etc.

Inlet means 31 has at the lower part of its body portion 37 a contactface 37a having openings 34a, 35a and 36a which communicates withconduits 34, 35 and 36. The openings 34a, 35a and 36a in the contactface 37a of inlet means 31 are aligned to communicate with theprotrusions 24a, 25a and 26a forming nozzle means in the contact face27a of dispensing means 21 when dispensing means 21 and inlet means 31are finally positioned just prior to the automatic refueling of a motorvehicle.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation view of dispensing means- 21 and inletmeans 31 in final positioning for automatically fueling a vehicle. Ventline 25 communicates through protrusion 25a in contact face 27a ofdispensing means 21 and communicates through opening 35a in contact face37a of inlet means 31 to vent line 35. Inlet line 24 is connected withprotrusion 24a in contact face 27a of dispensing means 21 andcommunicates through opening 34a in contact face 37a of inlet means 31of fuel line 34. Similarly, line 26 is connected with protrusion 26a incontact face 27a of dispensing means 21 and communicates through opening36a in contact face 37a of inlet means 31 with line 36.

Check valves 34b, 35b and 36b are located within the body portion 37 ofinlet means 31 and function to close the openings 34a, 35a and 36a ofthe contact face 37a. The check valves have closure means 340, 35c and36c which seal the openings 34a, 35a and 36a when the inlet means is notin use. The closure means are urged into the closed position by springmeans 34d, 35d, and 36d in valve housings 34c, 35c and 36a of the fillvent and sensor means respectively.

Each of the protrusions 24a, 25a and 26a in the contact face 27a ofdispensing means 21 has a resilient concentric gasket or O-ring 24b, 25band 26b and a fourth resilient gasket or O-ring 27b extending about theentire three concentric gaskets.

In operation the automatic gasoline dispensing apparatus of thisinvention is utilized with many elements such as vehicle positioningmeans, control means, moving means, etc., disclosed in a previouslymentioned application for Letters Patent. When the vehicle is positionedin a station automated for the dispensing of motor fuels, the dispensingmeans moves upward from its recessed position of rest in the floor forcontact with and engagement of the inlet means 31 so that the vent lineprotrusion 25a in contact face 27a of dispensing means 21 is inalignment with vent line opening 35a in the contact face 37a of inletmeans 31. Similarly, protrusions 24a and 26a incontact face 27a ofdispensing means 21 are also in alignment with openings 34a and 36a ofcontact face 37a of inlet means 31.

As the dispensing means 21 moves up from its recessed position of restin the floor of the station powered by moving means (not shown) thesupport members 2211 and 22b pivotly mounted on base 23 at points 22c,there exists sufiicient movement in all directions such as horizontally,vertically, and laterally that the bevelled sides 27b of the upperportion 27 receive the lower portion of the inlet means 31. Inlet means31 has contact face 37a with fill, openings 34a, 35a and 36a connectingthe vent and sensor lines communicating with and terminating in thevehicle fuel tank. The bevelled sides 27b of the upper portion 27 ofdispensing means 21 extend upwardly and outwardly from the contact face271: and provide for an assist in the final positioning of contact face27a of dispensing means 21 and contact face 37a of body portion 37 ofinlet means 31.

In the final positioning as shown in FIG. 2 the protrusions upward fromthe contact face 27a designated 24a, 25a and 26a extend a slightdistance into the check valves 34b, 35b and 36b of the body portion 37of inlet means 31. The protrusions from contact face 27a of dispensingmeans 21 are substantially cylindrical in shape with closed tops andperforated walls which can be bevelled inwardly and the closed topsexert forces against the faces of closure means 340, 35c and 360 of thecheck valves which are spring urged and recess to accommodate the entryof the protrusions. The faces of the check valves are therefore incontact with the tops of the cylindrical protrusions having openings intheir walls so that any dirt that may be present on the faces of thecheck valves is trapped.

In the final positioning of the dispensing means 21 and the inlet means31 the contact faces 27a and 37a respectively are joined and the lines24, 25 and 26 of dispensing means 21 are in communication with the lines34, 35 and 36 of inlet means 31 through the perforated wall of theprotrusions having side openings extending upwardly from contact face27a of dispensing means 21. Also, in the final positioning, theresilient O-rings or gaskets protruding above the surface of contactface 2711 are also in contact with contact face 37a to form a seal toprevent the escape of fluids during the automated fueling operation.

In the final positioning prior to the flow of fuel, sensor line 26 insealed communication with sensor line 36 in inlet means 31 has a slightnegative pressure and should any obstruction of the sensor line existthe sensing apparatus to which the sensing line 26 communicates willprevent the further operation of the system. Should fuel be flowingthrough inlet line 24 to fuel line 34 when a leak occurs between thecontact faces 27a and 37a respectively, and communication with thesensor exists to obstruct it, immediate cessation of the flow of fueloccurs because the vacuum in the sensor means abruptly changes causingthe entire system to stop.

Vent line 35 extending from the vehicle fuel tank to the inlet means 31communicates with vent line 25 of the dispensing means 21 and when thecontact faces 37a and 27a are finally positioned, the communicationallows the venting of the displaced fluids from the vehicle fuel tank asfuel is being placed in the tank through inlet line 24 of dispensingmeans 21 and fill line 34 of inlet means 31. Fill line 34 terminating inthe vehice fuel tank is equipped with a conventional check value such as34b to prevent the back flow of fuel from the tank.

Accordingly, when the contact faces 37a of inlet means 31 and 27a ofdispensing means 21 are finally positioned communication exists betweenvent lines 25 and 35, fuel inlet lines 24 and 34, and sensor lines 26and 36. If the seal between sensor line 26 and 36 is intact so that aslight vacuum may be drawn on the vehicle fuel tank to which line 36communicates to permit the commencement of the flow of fuel throughinlet line 24, and line 34 which communicates with the vehicle fueltank. As the fuel is transferred from bulk storage through the inletline 24 and line 34 to the vehicle gas tank vent lines 35 and 25 willpermit the venting of the tank and the transportation of the displacedfluid to bulk storage or elsewhere. Consequently, the vent line shouldbe large enough to handle the vapors from the vehicle fuel tank, at therate that fuel is introduced through lines 24 and 34 to the fuel tank.

The terminal end of sensor line 36 in the vehicle fuel tank is so placedthat when the level of fuel reaches the terminal end of sensor line 36the consequent obstruction of the line causes a negative pressure toincrease to as much as minus 5 p.s.i.g. and this increase in the vacuumwithin the line causes the apparatus to stop the refueling. The vacuumin the sensor line is easily maintained in amounts of about slightlybelow zero and when an ob struction occurs such as the liquid fuel levelin the tank rising to the terminal end of sensor line 36 an almostinstantaneous increase in vacuum occurs and reaches as much as minus 5p.s.i.g.

It is apparent from the drawings including FIGS. 1 and 2 and from thespecification and appended claims that the subject matter of thisinvention affords a novel apparatus and method which can be utilized inthe automatic dispensing of vehicle fuels. The inlet means fastened tothe underside of a vehicle such 'as the rear axle or other locationswhich yield a standardization of the location of the device affords anovel solution to some of the many problems involved in the automaticdispensing of motor fuels to vehicles. The inlet means can be anintegral part of the vehicle fuel tank which obviates the necessity forconduit mean from the inlet means to the fuel tank. When the inlet meansis fastened to the rear axle depicted in FIG. 1 a minimum distance fromthe inlet means to the vehicle fuel tank exists and necessitates shorterlengths of conduit extending from the inlet means and communicating withthe vehicle fuel tank; however, there is no intent to restrict thelocation of the inlet means to the rear axle since there are undoubtedlya myriad of other locations on a vehicle that might be standardized foraccomplishing the purposes of this invention.

The novel subject matter of this invention provides many otheradvantages in the automatic dispensing of motor fuels. For example, thedevice disclosed and claimed herein provides a substantially hiddenlocation for the inlet means which is always advantageous for anyadditions of apparatus in the style-conscious motor vehicle industry.This invention also provides for a maximum of safety precautions in thata sensor mechanism functions to assure positive shut-off during thefilling of a fuel tank.

The novel apparatus and method of this invention also provides for themaintenance of clean fuel in that all surfaces exposed to any types ofdirt that might adhere to the surface are locked in by mating surfacesto prevent any accumulations of dirt from reaching the vehicle fueltank. Furthermore, the vehicle mounted inlet means and mating dispensingmeans are inexpensive and sturdy with relatively few moving parts, andthe inlet means mounted on the underside of the vehicle is simple andeasy to install.

The invention is described by reference to a specific embodiment;however, it is understood that the embodiment is not intended to limitthe scope of the invention but is presented only to teach the best modecontemplated for practicing this invention.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for automatically dispensing fuel from a bulk storagesource to vehicles in a system utilizing vehicle positioning means,customer selection means, and means for locating the vehicle inlet meansfrom a reference point or plane including in combination:

(a) inlet means positioned on the vehicle and communicating with thevehicle fuel tank through a plurality of conduit means;

(b) dispensing means adaptable for communicating in sealed relationshipwith the inlet means, the dispensing means having a plurality ofconduits communicating with the bulk fuel storage source and 6communicating with means for producing a vacuum; and (c) sensing meansallowing the commencement of the flow of fuel and for interrupting theflow of fuel should a leak occur and for interrupting the flow of fuelwhen the vehicle tank is filled, said sensing means including a conduitcoupled with the means for producing a vacuum.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispensing means has a contactface adaptable for positioning with said inlet means in sealedrelationship for communication between the bulk storage and the vehicletank.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispensing means has a contactsurface having means for communicating with the inlet means and meansfor establishing a positive seal between said inlet means and saiddispensing means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conduit has therein a vacuum offrom about slightly below zero to about minus 5 pounds per square inch.

5. A method for automatically dispensing fuel from a bulk storage sourceto a vehicle including the steps of:

(a) positioning a vehicle relative to a system for automaticallydispensing fuel;

(b moving a dispensing means into a position of communication betweenthe bulk storage source and the vehicle fuel tank; and positivelysealing communication between the bulk storage source and the vehiclefuel tank;

(0) sensing the positive sealing of the communication establishedbetween the bulk storage source and the vehicle fuel tank; and

(d) venting the vehicle fuel tank for the removal of displaced fluidstherefrom during the automatic filling of the tank.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of sensing positive sealingand the absence of existing system leakage is performed through theutilization of a vacuum within the range of slightly below zero to aboutminus 5 pounds per square inch.

7. The combination comprising:

(a) inlet means in communication with a fuel tank to be filled, saidinlet means including first passageway means allowing escape of fluidsdisplaced from the tank during filling,

second passageway means allowing fuel to be fed into the tank,

third passageway means serving as a vacuum chamber and having an endterminating in the tank, said end being closed off when the tank isfilled with a predetermined quantity of fuel, and

closure means movable between a first position normally blocking thepassageway means and a second position allowing fluids to flow throughthe passageway means; and

(b) fuel dispensing means adapted to be mated with the inlet means sothat fuel can be fed into the tank, said dispensing means including:

fourth passageway means allowing escape of fluids from the tank duringfilling,

fifth passageway means allowing fuel to be fed into the tank,

sixth passageway means serving as a vacuum chamber, said fourth, fifthand sixth passageways being aligned, respectively, with said first,second and third passageways during mating of the inlet means and fueldispensing means, and

means adapted to move the closure means from the first position to thesecond position when said inlet means and fuel dispensing means arebrought into mating engagement.

-8. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein the inlet means has aface portion, and the fuel dispensing means has a recessed portionadapted to receive said face portion when the inlet means and fueldispensing means are brought into mating engagement.

9. The combination defined in-claim 8 including sealing means forpreventing leakage of fluids and being adapted to come between themating portions of the inlet means and the fuel dispensing means-whenthese said means come into mating engagement. 1

10. The combination defined in claim 9 wherein the inlet means isadapted to be mounted on an auto vehicle.

11. The combbination defined in claim 9 wherein the closure meanscomprises check valve means.

12. The combination defined in claim 9 in which there exists'in thethird passageway means a vacuum of from slightly below to about lbs/sq.in.

13. The combination defined in claim 9 wherein said inlet means ismounted to the underside of an auto vehicle and the fuel dispensingmeans is adapted to be automatically moved into mating engagement withthe inlet means.

14. The combination comprising:

(a) inlet means adapted to be coupled to a vehicle and having means incommunication with the vehicles fuel tank to enable venting of fiuidsand filling the tank with fuel," said inlet means also having a conduitwith a first end terminating'inthe fuel tank and a second endterminating at a point remote from the tank; afid (b) fuel dispensingmeans adapted to bemated in a sealed relationship with theinlet meansand having means which feed fuel into the tank, said fuel dispensingmeans also having a conduit with a first end adapted to be coupled to avacuum source and a second end adapted to be coupled with the second endof the conduit of the inlet means.

15. The combination defined in claim 14 wherein the conduit of the inletmeans has a closure means therein, and the fuel dispensing means hasmeans adapted to open said closure means when said inlet means and fueldispensing means are mated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,010,062 8/1935 Dawson 141-952,439,887 4/1948 Elliott 141-96 3,032,079 5/1962 Lisciani 141--953,103,958 9/1963 Rath 141-96 HOUSTON S. BELL, JR., Primary Examiner U.S.Cl. X.R.

